Abstract: Two types of higher order Lie l-ple systems are introduced in this paper. They are defined by brackets with l > 3 arguments satisfying certain conditions, and generalize the well-known Lie triple systems. One of the generalizations uses a construction that allows us to associate a (2n – 3)-Leibniz algebra pound with a metric n-Leibniz algebra () pound over tilde by using a 2(n – 1)-linear Kasymov trace form for () pound over tilde. Some specific types of k-Leibniz algebras, relevant in the construction, are introduced as well. Both higher order Lie l-ple generalizations reduce to the standard Lie triple systems for l = 3.

Abstract: This paper reviews the properties and applications of certain n-ary generalizations of Lie algebras in a self-contained and unified way. These generalizations are algebraic structures in which the two-entry Lie bracket has been replaced by a bracket with n entries. Each type of n-ary bracket satisfies a specific characteristic identity which plays the role of the Jacobi identity for Lie algebras. Particular attention will be paid to generalized Lie algebras, which are defined by even multibrackets obtained by antisymmetrizing the associative products of its n components and that satisfy the generalized Jacobi identity, and to Filippov (or n-Lie) algebras, which are defined by fully antisymmetric n-brackets that satisfy the Filippov identity. 3-Lie algebras have surfaced recently in multi-brane theory in the context of the Bagger-Lambert-Gustavsson model. As a result, Filippov algebras will be discussed at length, including the cohomology complexes that govern their central extensions and their deformations ( it turns out that Whitehead's lemma extends to all semisimple n-Lie algebras). When the skewsymmetry of the Lie or n-Lie algebra bracket is relaxed, one is led to a more general type of n-algebras, the n-Leibniz algebras. These will be discussed as well, since they underlie the cohomological properties of n-Lie algebras. The standard Poisson structure may also be extended to the n-ary case. We shall review here the even generalized Poisson structures, whose generalized Jacobi identity reproduces the pattern of the generalized Lie algebras, and the Nambu-Poisson structures, which satisfy the Filippov identity and determine Filippov algebras. Finally, the recent work of Bagger-Lambert and Gustavsson on superconformal Chern-Simons theory will be briefly discussed. Emphasis will be made on the appearance of the 3-Lie algebra structure and on why the A(4) model may be formulated in terms of an ordinary Lie algebra, and on its Nambu bracket generalization.

Abstract: We use the expansion of superalgebras procedure (summarized in the text) to derive Chem-Simons (CS) actions for the (p, q)-Poincare supergravities in three-dimensional spacetimes. After deriving the action for the (p, 0)-Poincare supergravity as a CS theory for the expansion osp(p vertical bar 2: R)(2, 1) of osp(p vertical bar 2: R), we find the general (p, q)-Poincare superalgebras and their associated D = 3 supergravity actions as CS gauge theories from an expansion of the simple osp(p + q vertical bar 2, R) superalgebras, namely osp(p + q vertical bar 2, R)(2, 1, 2).